My boyfriend and I love exploring the many breweries of New York City, and Coney Island Brewery is one of our favorites! Located right next to the Brooklyn Cyclones stadium, and just steps away from Coney Island’s famous boardwalk, it is the perfect spot to get a beer with friends.

Coney Island Brewery celebrates Coney Island’s history and culture through its flavors, beer names and style. As a nod to the popular amusement parks nearby, they have candy-apple flavored beer, as well as buttered popcorn and root beer float flavors. Their Mermaid Pilsner is one of their most popular brews. The bottle features a drawing of an elaborately costumed mermaid from Coney Island’s annual Mermaid Parade. Her counterpart is the Merman IPA.

Coney Island Brewery does their brewing on premises. You can view their huge silver brewing system through the glass windows in the back. They produce a wide variety of beer styles, so you’re sure to find something to suit your palate. Flights are available here, which is my favorite way to sample them all!

The taproom is small, so I recommend visiting on a nice day when you can sit outside at the large picnic tables. I love the fun atmosphere and you’ll see a lot of locals there on the weekends. Forget about the New York stereotypes; Brooklyn is home to amazingly friendly people. Grab a seat at one of the communal tables, and soon you’ll be chatting with new friends!